Valance support for shower stall



April 27, 1965 G. R. SCHUMANN 3,180,495

VALANCE SUPPORT FOR SHOWER STALL Filed Oct. 4, 1963 I NVEN TOR.

George R. Schumann United States Patent York Filed Qct. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 313,889 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-86) My invention relates to supporting frames especially designed to support a simulated awning or the like from a curtain rod such as is usually employed in a shower stall.

A particular object of my invention is to provide an arrangement which may be readily attached or detached from a curtain rod, which may be manufactured inexpensively and thus sold at a moderate price, which is cornpact and of light weight and thus available for mail order shipment, and which will be rugged and convenient.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a valance support embodying my invention, shown attached to a curtain rod;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same as completely assembled and with a valance attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation thereof partly in perspective, with a fragmentary view of a valance supported thereon;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective detail showing the juncture portions of two mating elements of the support, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of one corner of the support.

The improved valance support shown in the drawings and constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention includes a frame F preferably formed in two major parts indicated by the numerals a and 1315 which parts are substantially similar except that one is right-hand and the other is left-hand relative to each other. both parts itia and 101; are generally U-shaped and preferably formed of wire stock of sufficient guage to be form retaining, and preferably nickle-plated to resist corrosion. Each of said parts 10a and 10b comprises a pair of long legs 12- and a connectin web or short leg 14. The long legs on one of the parts, in this case part 10a, have terminal sleeve elements 15 adapted to receive telescopically the extremities of the long legs in the other part, in this case part 10:).

Pivotally attached to each of the short legs 14 is a bracket member indicated generally by numeral 18. Each of the brackets 18, as seen best in FIG. 3, is preferably formed of light bar material twisted approximately midway of its length, as at 19, through approximately 90 degrees, one end thereof being bent reversely upon itself to form a U-shaped book through the legs of Which extends a threaded bolt 22 having a head 23 at one end and a wing-nut 25 at the other.

The opposite end of bracket 18 is bored to receive a relatively short threaded stud 28 which passes through a bore in a flattened portion 14' of leg 14 and likewise retained by a wingnut 30. It will be noted that stud 23 is attached to leg 14 at a point relatively close to its juncture with leg 12.

In use, a convenient method of setting up the support and a valance carried thereby may be as follows: Bolt 22 is removed from brackets 18 by loosening wing-nut 25 and hooks 29 are then engaged on the rod R and the bolt and Thus,

i eeentecl Apr. 2?, 1965 ice rod, tightening up on the wing-nut until frame portions 143a and 1011 are rigidly secured on the rod. The valance V is then mounted on opposite long legs 12 of the frame members by first inserting the long leg of one of said frame members into the customary pocket formed in the hem of valance V and then inserting the opposed long leg 12 in said pocket, and then joining the mating legs by telescoping one pair of long legs into sleeves 15. The valance V is then arranged on the frame as desired, to provide a neat appearance, as seen in FIG. 2. Finally the frame F is adjusted to the desired angular position by pivotal movement of the hooks around the rod R, tightening up on wing-nut 2.5 when this is accomplished, and also arranging the frame F pivotally about studs 28 until the top or hem portion of the valance abuts against the outside Wall above the opening of the stall and then tightening up on Wing-nuts 30.

t will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple, compact and convenient arrangement. The frame is susceptible of shipment in a fiat package of light weight, and may be set up and taken down in a short time with little effort and without tools.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A valance support of the character described, comprising (a) a pair of generally similar U-shaped members, each having a Web and a pair of similar legs, and telescopically joined together to form a generally rectangular frame, and

(b) a pair of brackets having means for pivotal connection to the Web of each of said members,

(0) each bracket having a clamp portion adjacent its free end for pivotally securing the frame to a curtain rod, the pivotal connect-ions at each end of the support being essentially in the same plane.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein each clamp portion comprises a hook adapted to embrace a rod with screw means for securing the hook on the rod at a desired angle.

3. A device as in claim 1, having (a) a pair of sleeves on certain of said legs for telescopically seating the other legs, and

(b) each clamp portion comprises a hook adapted to embrace a rod with screw means for securing the hook on the rod at a desired angle.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein a) said frame is formed of Wire, and

(b) said brackets are detachably secured to the frame, the frame being adjustable to a desired angle relative to the bracket.

References fired by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 984,563 2/11 Holmes 248-214 X 1,204,122 11/16 Bowman -368 1,391,599 9/21 Wood 211-87 1,552,196 9/25 Bastis 248-214 X 1,615,079 1/27 Grigsby 160-368 1,720,564 7/29 Noble 248-229 X 1,770,190 7/30 Andrews 211-106 2,520,371 8/50 Pandele 211-104 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VALANCE SUPPORT OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING (A) A PAIR OF GENERALLY SIMILAR U-SHAPED MEMBERS EACH HAVING A WEB AND A PAIR OF SIMILAR LEGS, AND TELESCOPICALLY JOINED TOGETHER TO FORM A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME, AND (B) A PAIR OF BRACKETS HAVING MEANS FOR PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO THE WEB OF EACH OF SAID MEMBERS, (C) EACH BRACKET HAVING A CLAMP PORTION ADJACENT ITS FREE END FOR PIVOTALLY SECURING THE FRAME TO A CURTAIN ROD, THE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS AT EACH END OF THE SUPPORT BEING ESSENTIALLY IN THE SAME PLANE. 